Maine Truck Accident Lawyers

The trucking industry is vital to the American way of life, but these same vehicles can pose a tremendous danger to the everyday citizen traveling on our roadways.

These trucks carry very heavy loads at highway speeds, and they are responsible for catastrophic accidents each and every day. The personal injuries these 80-ton trucks cause totaled 104,000 in 2013. That same year almost 4,000 people were killed in accidents involving a truck and a passenger vehicle. Click here for our list of national & state truck accident statistics.

Truck Accident Law and Liability

Accidents involving semi-trucks can be more complicated than accidents involving passenger vehicles & may leave you with a lot of questions.

There are numerous federal and state laws and regulations that govern the trucking industry. The Code of Federal Regulations, the U.S Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Maine’s state legislature each weigh in with trucking regulations.

When an accident between a car and a semi-truck occurs, it is sometimes difficult to determine the identity of the proper defendant to sue. Sometimes several parties bear some responsibility for the victim’s injuries. Such parties may include:

The truck driver;

The truck’s owner; or

The company that leased the truck from the owner.

It is crucial that victims retain the help of a qualified and experienced attorney to determine the proper parties to the lawsuit and to ensure consideration of all applicable federal and state law.

Truck Accident Causes

The cause of collisions between cars and trucks varies. Maybe the owner of the truck is at fault for failing to properly inspect the truck before sending it out onto the roadways. Perhaps the driver is at fault. Drivers may be paid a higher rate to drive long distances in a short period. A driver may be at fault for speeding or for taking a dangerous turn just to save time and receive higher compensation.

Adding to the danger is the fact that some drivers may not take the proper number or the proper length of rest stops, thus driving a large, heavy vehicle in an exhausted state.

Other common causes of truck accidents include:

Unreasonably long schedules;

Improperly or overloaded trucks;

Driver intoxication;

Poor driver training and little experience; and

Driving in dangerous weather.

Stay Safe When Sharing the Road with a Truck

The average semi truck weighs close to 80 tons, while the average passenger vehicle weighs only 2 tons. Whenever a car and a truck collide, the car is likely to endure tremendous physical damage. The passengers inside the car may also sustain very severe personal injuries caused by the collision.

In order to stay safe while sharing the roadways with large trucks, please consider the follow safety tips:

Pass a semi truck as quickly as possible; Do not drive alongside a semi truck for long periods of time.

Assume the driver cannot see your car in his or her mirrors.

Finally, always use caution whenever driving on any roadway. Accidents can happen quickly especially when a heavy truck driving at highway speed is involved.

If you or someone you know is in need of an experienced truck accident attorney, please contact our offices today. The Maine attorneys at Fales & Fales, P.A. are ready to help.

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About Us

A Monmouth man received a $1 million settlement for a low back disk herniation suffered when his vehicle was rear ended by another driver. The injury required fusion surgery.

$2 Million Wrongful Death Settlement

Before the start of trial, a settlement was reached for the estate of a local man who died after a collision with a driver who failed to see a stop sign.

$250,000 Verdict for Motorcycle Accident

An Androscoggin County jury awarded $250,000 to a Mechanic Falls man who suffered severe leg injuries in an accident caused by a driver who failed to stop for a red light.

$236,000 Slip and Fall Settlement

A tenant who slipped and fell in an icy parking lot at an apartment complex settled his claim against an Auburn landlord for $236,000. The tenant aggravated a pre-existing back condition in the fall and ultimately required surgery.

$350,000 Settlement for Prescription Error

A Greene man received a settlement $350,000 from a drugstore for injuries caused by a pharmacist’s error in filling a prescription. The man developed side effects from taking the wrong drug.

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